Kazakh President Tokayev on First India Visit Attends BRICS Meet; Bilateral With Modi
The participation of President Tokayev in the Summit reflects Kazakhstan’s consistent policy of strengthening multilateral cooperation within BRICS and its partnership mechanisms, while also reaffirming Kazakhstan’s interest in deepening ties with India as one of the key centers of the emerging multipolar world order.
By Aditi Bhaduri
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his very first official visit attended the BRICS Outreach Meet and later also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines.
The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026, with India hosting the Summit this year as part of its BRICS Chairmanship. The Summit is being held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
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Kazakhstan is a BRICS Partner country, along with Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
This year Kazakhstan is also the Chair of the Eurasian Economic Union, with which India is working on concluding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Kazakhstan has consistently developed its partnership with BRICS, viewing the format as an important platform for advancing the interests of the Global South, strengthening multilateralism, and reforming the international financial and economic architecture.
The participation of President Tokayev in the Summit reflects Kazakhstan’s consistent policy of strengthening multilateral cooperation within BRICS and its partnership mechanisms, while also reaffirming Kazakhstan’s interest in deepening ties with India as one of the key centers of the emerging multipolar world order.
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In his address the Kazakh President highlighted several key priorities:
First, strengthening global peace and stability. Kazakhstan called for greater trust among major powers, political dialogue and diplomacy, warning against further fragmentation of the international system and a new arms race.
Second, reforming and strengthening the UN. President Tokayev stressed that there is no alternative to the United Nations and called for UN Security Council reform to ensure fairer representation of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Third, expanding economic cooperation with BRICS. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and BRICS members and partners reached around $72 billion in 2025. Kazakhstan intends to further develop trade, investment and industrial cooperation, including in critical minerals, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
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Fourth, Kazakhstan–India economic partnership. As Chair of the Eurasian Economic Union, Kazakhstan supports expanding economic cooperation between the EAEU and BRICS and advancing work towards a Free Trade Agreement with India.
Fifth, transport and connectivity. Kazakhstan sees itself as a key Eurasian transit hub and aims to increase transit volumes through the country to 100 million tonnes annually. President Tokayev welcomed India’s proposed BRICS Framework for Cooperation on Logistics and Supply Chains.
Sixth, artificial intelligence. Kazakhstan proposed establishing a BRICS Plus Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, bringing together national AI centres, laboratories and research projects and developing multilingual AI solutions.
Seventh, water security. Kazakhstan invited BRICS members and partners to participate in international consultations on its proposal to establish an International Water Organisation as a specialised UN agency.
Concluding his address, President Tokayev emphasised Kazakhstan’s commitment to multilateralism, sovereign equality, balance of interests and practical cooperation, positioning BRICS as an open platform that complements the UN-centred international system.
The Kazakh President also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit today. The two leaders discussed ways to give fresh momentum to the India-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership, with a focus on trade, energy, technology, connectivity, investment and innovation. They also emphasised strengthening cultural and people-to-people linkages
Kazakhstan and India are bound by strategic partnership relations based on long-standing traditions of friendship, mutual respect, and broad convergence of approaches on key regional and international issues. Kazakhstan regards India as one of its most important partners in Asia and as one of the leading voices of the Global South, with significant economic, technological and demographic potential.
Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and India amounted to USD 924.3 million in 2025, with far greater potential, wh8ch the sides vowed to realise.
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